Growing & Learning Archives - Page 21 of 23

Surprise (Marketing lessons from Walt)

November 25, 2006

This is the first in my eight-day series – Marketing Lessons from Walt. As my family and I enjoy Walt Disney World, I’m going to capture some of the marketing genius that I believe began with Walt’s passion and has now grown into one of the world’s most powerful brands.

We’re all familiar with the golden oldie – the giveaway. Typically, we ask customers to sign up to win or create some sort of contest. And then they wait to see if they won. And in most cases, probably forgot they even signed up.

To tie in with their yearlong theme, "The Year of a Million Dreams," Disney has added a brilliant twist to the age-old favorite.
They’ve added surprise.

Here’s their twist. "Imagine walking through one of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks when a Cast Member taps you on the shoulder to offer you a dream come true. Right now, over a million extra-special dreams, some thought impossible, are being randomly awarded to people just like you."

It goes on to list prizes that range from not having to stand in a single line all day (more valuable than you can imagine) to traveling around the world, touring all of the Disney parks.

No little pieces of paper for your name and phone number. No essay contest. You just win because you’re there. At that very moment.

Wow.

Surprise is a story-inspiring emotion. It demands to be shared.

How could you add one of Walt’s favorite elements — surprise — to your marketing mix?

Marketing Lessons from Walt – The Series:

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Do more than throw them a bone

November 24, 2006

It is one of the most powerful and most overlooked marketing truths out there. Employees that feel appreciated will do the same for your clients. Lisa Cieslica, from JobPoint makes the point that sometimes a sincere “thank you” can be the best incentive around. But if you want to go beyond that…here are some other ideas.

Let them decide: The CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK asks his employees for 101 life goals. When someone exceeds his expectations and he wants to reward them, he looks for ways to help them get closer to one of those life goals.

Don’t forget their families: When one of your team has been putting in a lot of extra hours and effort, or been on the road for a while, why not send a thank you note or gift to their family?

It doesn’t have to be big: Employees love creative coupons that can be redeemed for a long lunch, or a half day Friday.

No matter what you do, make sure you couple it with Cieslica’s suggestion – a genuine thank you. That’s sweet music to anyone’s ears.

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Indulging in my own gratitude

November 21, 2006

I try very hard to make every post in this blog about you. The reader. The businessperson. The marketer. The writer. I want to infuse value, insights and fresh ideas in every post.

So I hope you’ll forgive me this self-indulgent post. What I would love is to have you add to it with your own self-indulgent gratitude. That would make me feel better. (Does that make this post even more self-centered?)

Anyway…enough prelude.

Over at the Balanced Life Center blog, Nneka has created the Season of Gratitude. She’s invited other bloggers to share “a gratitude moment” and she’ll weave them all together with links and blog magic. I couldn’t resist joining in.

Rather than create a laundry list of the incredible and plentiful blessings that I am surrounded with every day, I decided to narrow my focus to my greatest gift.

My daughter. She is quite simply, the best part of me.

Her questions force me to find my own clarity. Her humor is the perfect salve for a stressful day. Her fears remind me of my own humanity and her teen-induced insecurities keep my heart tender. Her zest for life’s delights feeds my spirit and her need to re-charge urges me to slow down now and then. Her laughter triggers my own (sometimes in the most inappropriate places and times) and her tears show me the depth of my own vulnerability.

Her drive to succeed tempers my own so we can talk about balance and her sense of discovery (both academic and of self) lets me indulge in the same. Her need to learn about the responsibilities that come along with being given a good life allows me to share my talents unselfishly and take her along for the ride.

Her presence gives me purpose. Her future gives me hope. And her faith in me inspires me to be a better person.

She is my Jiminy Cricket. She is my legacy. And she is, every single day, my season of gratitude.

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Are you really listening?

November 21, 2006

Innovation is certainly one of the buzzwords of the day. Business leaders are wrestling with how to create a culture that inspires innovation and expecting their R&D team to create the new wonder product. But, it’s not just R&D’s job. Anyone can be innovative.

Patricia Seybold makes this point over and over in her blog Outside Innovation. She contends, and I agree, that our clients/customers will innovate for us, if we let them.

How do you start? I think you start by listening. Really listening. I think your customers are giving you all the clues you need, if you’re tuned in. Want an example? Let’s take a product that’s in the mature phase of its marketing life cycle. Toilet paper. Really, once we got past the one versus two-ply, there hasn’t been a lot of innovation in this product line. Until recently.

You can now buy toilet paper with paw prints on each square. The paw prints lead to a puppy. That’s how the kids know how much toilet paper to use. If you have ever unclogged a toilet because your child used half a roll, you know how brilliant this is.

This was a problem that consumers of toilet paper have complained about for years. It wasn’t enough to make us stop using the product but it was aggravating. And then one day, voila, someone at Cottonelle was listening. And looked at the product in a new light. Hello jump in marketshare.

What are your customers grumbling about? I’m not talking serious complaints, but minor irritants or frustrations. It probably seemed so small that you just dismissed it. Or as in the Cottonelle’s case, it wasn’t really your product’s fault at all. It was really user error.

They didn’t dismiss it. They listened. And now they’re innovators. It’s time for you to follow suit. Pay more attention. Listen more intently. Wonder a little.

Ask yourself…what could you put paw prints on?

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Ease into the week — Wave your Magic Brand Be Gone wand

November 19, 2006

I don’t know about you but Sunday nights are time for me to catch up. On my reading, on my work, on my relationships — all with an eye on Monday morning and knowing that the 180 mph pace is about to resume.

Sundays also seem to be my day for deep thoughts. I thought it might be fun to ease into the week together with a question that is sort of about branding and marketing but also has a personal element to it as well. A chance to get to know each other AND talk shop. Perfect for a Sunday night.

Once a brand becomes part of the consumers’ consciousness, it’s pretty tough to shake. It’s a lot easier to seed a brand than it is to do a 180 degree adjustment to a brand that is already firmly implanted into people’s mindset. So here’s this week’s question:

If you could wave your "Magic Brand Be Gone" wand and erase a bad brand that you don’t think can be repaired or redirected, whose brand would you erase so they could start all over? Oh…and Paris Hilton is off limits, that’s just too easy!

My answer? Reality TV shows. I will say right up front, I think most of it is dreadful. And deserving of the brand it has earned. But, in the midst of the greed, nastiness and gratuitous everything…I think there are a few shows that spotlight the human spirit, like ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Unfortunately, TV producers believe their own brand and see to try to outdo themselves in making the worst, most exploitive reality TV shows possible.

With my wand, I’d wipe out those pre-conceived ideas and let them try again.

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5 tips and tricks to being a better speaker

November 18, 2006

At the Small Business CEO, Steve Rucinski offers his 3 keys to delivering an effective presentation. I don’t disagree with a single one of them…but I’d like to add my top five, to get us to 8.

They say it is the #1 fear of humans…to speak in front of a crowd. But for us sick fools who enjoy it, here’s how to be even better at your craft.

1. Have 45 minutes of material for each 60 minutes on stage. Always leave a little room for questions, stories that just pop into your head and the unknown.

2. Have at least 30 minutes of "back up material" in case none of the items in #1 occur AND out of nervous energy, you zip through your material.

3. Beware of butt fatigue. Allow your audience a break for every 60 minutes you present. But start on time when you bring them back.

4. Always end on time. Meetings planners will love you. Even if the speaker ahead of you took 30 minutes of your time, know how to condense your presentation on the fly without making the audience feel the difference.

5. Realize that you are on stage long before you hit the stage. Mingle ahead of time, chat up the audience and just get comfortable in the room.

I’m sure between Steve and myself, we’ve just scratched the surface. Feel free to jump in….what’s your favorite speaking trick?

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Creativity Tip: Ask, ask, ask

November 17, 2006

In my day job, I have to be creative on demand. As I am sure you can relate…some days, I don’t feel very creative. I can’t wait until the muses arrive. I need to be innovative, original and engaging. Now.

Yikes.

So I collect creativity triggers. Games I can play, ways to twist the common into something fresh and brainwipes…ways to clear my head of all the expected, to make room for new ways of looking something. If you too need this sort of creativity thumping now and then, I’m going to post some creativity tips every once in awhile.

Here’s one that usually serves me well.

Be like a reporter. Query the situation, problem, product that you’re needing to be creative about. Not a who, what, where, how kind of an interview, but more of an in depth character study. Do it out loud if you have to, but really dig in. Ask probing questions. Assume the persona of your interview subject to "feel" the answers. I know it sounds a little silly but you’ll be amazed at the interesting insights. Give it a spin and let me know how it works for you.

P.S. If you want a big bundle of creativity, check out Roger von Oech‘s books, blog and tools. My favorite is his Creative Whack Pack — a deck of cards with creative thinking strategies and tips. You’ll love his stuff!

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Who are you calling an SOB?

November 12, 2006

Those of you who know me won’t be all that surprised that I got called an SOB today. But in this case, it was actually a compliment!

Liz Strauss of Successful Blog recognizes a few blogs every week that, in her words…

"They take the conversation to their readers, contribute great ideas, challenge us, make us better, and make our businesses stronger. I thank every one of our SOBs for thinking what we say is worth passing on. Good conversations shared can only improve the blogging community."

I’m honored to be included among Liz’s very esteemed list of bloggers who have something of note to say. Check out this week’s list and Liz’s past honorees in her Hall of Fame links.

Thanks for the nod Liz…I will do my best to live up to your moniker SOB!

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Ease into the week — who creates a lovefest for you?

November 12, 2006

Image via Wikipedia

I don’t know about you but Sunday nights are time for me to catch up. On my reading, on my work, on my relationships — all with an eye on Monday morning and knowing that the 180 mph pace is about to resume.

Sundays also seem to be my day for deep thoughts. I thought it might be fun to ease into the week together with a question that is sort of about branding and marketing but also has a personal element to it as well. A chance to get to know each other AND talk shop. Perfect for a Sunday night.

We’ve all read and heard about experiential marketing. Marketing that goes beyond features and benefits and actually makes the customer a part of the selling/buying experience. Great examples are some of the themed restaurants like Rain Forest Cafe or shopping/road testing a Harley. These businesses have captured a powerful marketing truth. People buy what they love and what they feel a part of. So here’s this week’s question:

What business or retail establishment best envelopes you into the buying experience, creates a lovefest between you and them, and makes you feel like a member of the club? And, of course, how do they do that for you?

My answer? Walt Disney World. (not just any amusement park or theme park — just this one) I step onto the grounds and I change. Physically, emotionally, mentally. I’ll bet if you tested it, my blood pressure would drop 15 points. The smells, the sounds, the visual stimulation — it all connects with me, heart and soul. Its hard to explain and sounds a little nutty I suspect, but its like going home for me. More on this later…

P.S. I plan on doing a 9-day blog series, "What marketing lessons can we learn from Walt Disney" in a few weeks, when my family and I make our annual pilgrimage to the mouse house.

P.S.S. Runners up for me in this question…the Apple Store, Barnes & Noble.

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Fortune 500 Corporate Blog Review Series: Apple

November 11, 2006

Image via CrunchBase

When I read on Easton Ellsworth’s blog about the Fortune 500 Corporate Blog Project, I decided I wanted to participate. The premise is simple…volunteer bloggers choose one or more of the Fortune 500 companies and do a little legwork to see if the company has an official blog. Post it wiki style and voila, together we have created some pretty impressive knowledge.

I chose one of my favorite companies, #159 Apple. (AAPL) I have to admit, I made the assumption that of course they’d have a corporate blog. I mean, come on…it’s Apple.

Typical of Apple, they aren’t doing it like most others. Instead, on their homepage is a link to what they call Hot News with an RSS feed. But the Hot News is a blend of internal news and links to outside sources, like O’Reilly Digital Media and the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

There are no opportunities to comment or trackback. So not exactly a blog, but more than a website.

There are plenty of unofficial blogs focusing on Apple, their products, et al as you might imagine. Technorati lists over 4,300 of them.

If you haven’t grabbed a company to research — grab one soon. I’m off to add my 2 cents to the wiki.

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